anzoid Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 I have no need for one but would like to try a P bass - only ever owned a cheap Westfield B100 that had a rather problematic neck. Apart from that it was quite fun. I'd kind of like to make a project of it but want to start with something cheap that I can muck around with and upgrade using standard parts - i.e. I'd like to buy something that I could replace the neck on with a fretless neck at some point, so it would need to fit a Mighty Mite neck, or Warmoth or similar Fender standard. Same for scratchplate, pickup and bridge. Over time I'm OK with spending a bit on parts to make something I like, but want to start small. So, the question - which cheap (under £150, preferably even £100) P bass would make a good starting point? Would another Westfield B1000 be worth tracking down? J&D, Thomann, Gear4Music? Are the bodies on those "Build it yourself" kits any good, and standard sizes...? All advice welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 I've worked on a couple of Westfields and was impressed with the quality, particularly given its price point. Frets were good. Hardware was adequate. Wiring and pots were the weak point in my opinion but easily remedied. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 I don't know Fenders, but the Westfields I've had have been good value for the price. The J+D jazz neck I have on a bitsa is OK but the fret ends are a little sharp. (Not like my playing, that;s just tuneless ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 I had a look at my pink Westfield PP and compared it with a Fender MIM J neck. As far as I can tell without actually trying it, the J neck looks to be a perfect drop-in to the Westfield body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Beware Vintage (brand) instruments. Not that there's anything really wrong with them (perfectly decent Wilkinson hardware) but the neck pocket isn't "standard" Fender sized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there. How about this as a start? [url]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 (edited) [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479031943' post='3173364'] I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there. How about this as a start? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url] [/quote] Looks good to me. I'd be inclined to keep both neck and body though, as the neck will be a good fit to the body. (At least to Squier standards), but I guess the OP is looking for a narrower neck. Edited November 13, 2016 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Ive just built this up using parts Ive collected over the years and a body I bought for £40, cheapest Steve Harris P going haha pushed the boat out though, ive bought a Gotoh 201 for it, still only cost £70 for the whole thing. [URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5540_zpsmhkbfe5x.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5540_zpsmhkbfe5x.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5539_zpszaouez6q.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5539_zpszaouez6q.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 [quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1479038684' post='3173436']pushed the boat out though, ive bought a Gotoh 201 for it, [/quote] Sincerely hope you're going to plug the original holes & re-drill - you've got string alignment like a proper 70s CBS Fender there! Very pretty bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1479042215' post='3173465'] Sincerely hope you're going to plug the original holes & re-drill - you've got string alignment like a proper 70s CBS Fender there! Very pretty bass. [/quote] will that do? [URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/IMG_5542_zpszhvirdi5.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/IMG_5542_zpszhvirdi5.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted November 13, 2016 Share Posted November 13, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xroads Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Cheap is relative, but I recently bought a used Squier Affinity bass for around 150, and I am deeply impressed by the performance/price ratio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 This is how my bitsa turned out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzoid Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479144568' post='3174306'] This is how my bitsa turned out. [/quote] That is very very nice. Thanks for all the suggestions - gathering ideas together and will soon have a plan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lojo Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 [quote name='anzoid' timestamp='1478985966' post='3173205'] I have no need for one [/quote] That's what I said about a dishwasher Good luck with the project , P basses are great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 I want to do this to - I've developed a long-running fantasy about having a fairly battered orange p-bass, and I think the only way to fulfil it is to build the damn thing myself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anzoid Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1479031943' post='3173364'] I went the bitsa route. Started off with a Squier Jazz neck I liked, found a cheap solid body on fleabay (the seller measured the neck pocket for me), and went on from there. How about this as a start? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201713748283[/url] [/quote] I'm not a fan of the reliced/roadwarn look, otherwise would have stuck in a bid. Does anyone know if the body on the Harley Benson PB-20 (https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp120bk_ebass.htm) is Fender standard size? Looks like it would be a reasonable thing to play whilst in the process of upgrading. Though I've also found a Westfield that looks sweet... in metallic CAR which looks nicer than I imagined it might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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